Driving and being rubbish!

[Helpmedrive]

I'm in my thirties and passed my test at 17 on the second time of asking but, and it's embarrassing to say, I think I'm a bad driver as I really struggle and I want to improve.

Actual driving isn't the issue, it's other cars and road systems/layouts. I have a very complicated roundabout on my commute and have no issue as I know it, but if I was approaching it for the first time I wouldn't know what to do. I find changing lanes very difficult, my brain cannot interpret a) what lane a car is in b) how close they are. This means I've only driven on a motorway once and it was terrifying.

I need to drive a different way to work in a couple of weeks and I'm already dreading it. I will spend ages on Google maps looking at the layout, trying to understand.

Another problem is I can't go down single track/narrow roads as if I meet someone I won't be able to reverse successfully.

Obviously I'm anxious, but I'm worried my main issue is my brain! Is there any way I can improve things? I've spoken to people before about how difficult I find interpreting road signs and what I see in the mirrors and they look at me like I have two heads.

Could you do a couple of "top up" lessons as such? Call a driving school and explain, they will generally be willing to take you out for a few hours to work on your confidence. My mum did it a few years back when she bought a car after 10 years of mot having a need for one.

I agree with the refresher lessons. My sister did this a few years ago after not driving for 20 years. She also asked the instructor to take her on a busy duel carriageway quite a few times (having never driven on one since passing her test).

For your drive to work can you go either really early/after rush hour/ a Sunday afternoon to try the route so you what to expect on the day? Or could you ask someone to drive you in advance so you can focus on junctions/roundabouts?

Yes, go and have some top up lessons.
And practice at your own pace, challenging yourself gently.
Checking out the route on Google maps beforehand seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do. If you know you’re not a confident driver putting extra effort into preparing is the sensible and responsible thing to do. Will you be able to do a practice run at a quiet time so you don’t have to worry on the day you have to do it for real?
Can I also recommend a book by Reg Local, I think it’s called Advanced Driving. Someone on here recommended it and it changed my outlook. I no longer think that because I took ages to pass my test, I am not good at judging distance and speed and don’t have particularly quick reactions that I am doomed to be a bad driver forever. A lot of the working out what’s going on around you is experience- it will come.

I hadn't considered top up lessons as I've got it into my head that if I haven't learnt by now then there must be something wrong with me! But actually it's a really good point. I only went on a dual carriageway once in my lessons (and then again in my failed test!) I could even just ask my husband if he's willing to take me out to practice.

Good point about the Sunday drive, I had to do this when we went back to the office some days and it really helped. I actually don't live near work so (ironically) it's quite a long drive so I'll find something good to do in the area on a weekend and try it that way.

Thanks both for replying.